Method for generating hydrogen from water or steam in a plasma

ABSTRACT

Water molecules, preferably in the form of steam or water vapor, are introduced into a plasma. The plasma causes the water molecules to dissociate into their constituent molecular elements of hydrogen and oxygen. To prevent recombining of the constituent molecular elements, the hydrogen and oxygen are separated from each other. Various devices may be employed to effect this separation. Once separated, the molecular components are prevented from recombining with each other or with other elements by using standard separation techniques normally employed for separating dissimilar gaseous species.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] It is well documented in the field of exploration and productionof fossil fuels that worldwide oil reserves are finite and being rapidlydepleted. Oil production in the United States reached a peak circa 1970and is rapidly declining. Outside the United States, It is presentlybelieved that peak oil production will reach a climax in approximatelyten to fifteen years.

[0002] However, despite knowledge of the finiteness of the knownreserves, demand for oil production and consumption continues toescalate due to increasing demands for energy within and outside theUnited States. Accordingly, despite short term price fluctuations in thecommodity markets, it is expected that the price of oil will continue toescalate as known oil reserves become increasingly scarce. Eventuallythe price of oil will become too great to provide reasonably pricedenergy to fuel the global economy, thereby resulting in severe economiccontraction of worldwide output of goods and services.

[0003] In addition to the increase in oil prices relating to theincreasing scarcity of this commodity in view of increasing demand, themajority of known oil reserves are located in countries that arepolitically unstable. A government or cartel hostile to world economicgrowth could hold industrialized countries ransom to its oil by refusingto export its oil or charging ludicrously high prices. Suddeninstability of oil production or price due to such hostilities isforecast and modeled to cause great economic rifts in our society. It istherefore important that we increase our reliance and resources onsources of energy that are readily available and renewable.

[0004] Other concerns regarding the use of fossil fuels are related toenvironmental factors. For example, the burning of fossil fuels producescarbon dioxide (CO₂) and smog producing compounds, such as unburnedhydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen, which are generally released intothe atmosphere. It is known that increasing concentrations of CO₂ in theatmosphere have resulted in climatic changes, notably global warming. Itis further been predicted that global warning may also eventually causesevere rifts in the global society through the loss of arable landneeded to feed an ever-increasing global population. Furthermore, globalwarming is further causing melting of polar ice caps, thereby raisingsea levels resulting in further loss of land for increasing populations.

[0005] One such source of energy that is readily abundant and renewableis hydrogen. On a weight basis, hydrogen possesses three times moreenergy than an equivalent weight of gasoline. There are several knownmethods of producing hydrogen, for example, coal gasification, partialoxidation of oil, steam methane reforming, and biomass gasification,among others. Although these methods have been shown to be efficaciousin the generation of hydrogen, a significant disadvantage and limitationin each of these methods is the co-production of carbon dioxide, whichas discussed above is a leading cause of global warming.

[0006] An alternative process technology that does not have carbondioxide as a byproduct is the electrolysis of water. High purityhydrogen and oxygen can be produced using a relatively simpleelectrolysis method. However, a significant disadvantage and limitationof electrolysis is the high electrical power requirements needed tosplit water into constituent elements of hydrogen and oxygen. Manyfactors in the electrolysis method contribute to these powerrequirements.

[0007] For example, since water possesses a high dielectric constant,the resistance in the current path between the submersed electrodes ishigh. In addition, there is a mass transfer resistance at the electrodesdue to the abrupt disruption of the electrolyte at the electrode surfacefrom the evolution of gas. This disruption also increases the resistanceto the flow of electrical energy.

[0008] Furthermore, the active surface area of the electrodes limits theelectrolysis process. Accordingly, a need exists to overcome theseinherent disadvantages and limitations of electrolysis to split waterinto its constituent elements of hydrogen and oxygen.

[0009] Water vapor discharges have been investigated by scientists forthe purpose of understanding the reaction mechanisms of chemicalreactions. The intermediates or free radicals that are formed during thereaction, were the main subject of interest in the historic literature.Another interest in the pursuit of water decomposition, was to find aprocess of generating hydrogen peroxide. These two paths are whatmotivated the study of this reaction in a plasma.

[0010] An early attempt (H. C. Urey and G. I. Levin, Jounal of theAmerican Chemical Society, 3290-3293, Vol. 51, November, 1929), atunderstanding the reactions in dissociated water by the Wood's tube wasthe discovery that water vapor under the influence of an electricdischarge dissociated water into hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl freeradicals. They noted that the product gas consisted of ⅔ the amount inhydrogen for the conditions that were run in the experiments. The paperdoes not illustrate any process conditions nor the method of analysis ofthe gas mix. They also detected hydrogen peroxide in the water condensedin the trap. They attributed the excess hydrogen from the intermediatedecomposition of the hydrogen peroxide product and not directly from thewater vapor. They give support to this assertion by noting that pastobservations state that hydrogen peroxide is formed first and thenfurther decomposed to simpler species. Experiments were conducted todetermine the presence of hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl radicals, whichwas confirmed by the activity of the gas. They noted the products fromthe water vapor discharge were more active than if only hydrogen atomswere present. There was no conclusive proof of the existence of thesespecies as cautioned by the Authors. Another group of investigators (R.A. Jones, W. Chan and M. Venugoplan, The Journal of Physical Chemistry,volume 73, number 11 page 3693-3697, November 1969) were motivated toinvestigate the formation of hydrogen peroxide using a low pressuremicrowave discharge. They investigated a range of process conditionsusing water vapor as the reactant and trapping the products ofdissociation in a cold trap at very low temperatures. They determinedthe yield of hydrogen peroxide under varying conditions. P. J. Friel andK. A. Kreiger, Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 80, p.4210-4215, 1958 investigated the recombination of the high voltagedischarge products of water vapor. They used various surfaces in orderto effect the recombination reactions and determine the final productcomposition. They principally focused on using the surface of silica gelto study recombination reactions. They discovered that silica gel didnot catalyze the recombination of hydrogen atoms. They speculated that asurface was an active intermediate in the subsequent reactions. Therecombination reaction was accompanied by a temperature increase and agreen luminenscence on the surface of the gel. It was noted that underthese conditions the prinicpal products of the reaction was H2 and O2.The reactions were conducted in a moderately high vacuum (<300millitorr) and extremely low flow rates (<20 millimoles/hour). Inaddition, reactions of the water vapor discharge products in a liquidair trap were analyzed and studied. Hydrogen peroxide, water andhydrogen and oxygen were formed. The predominant product were water andhydrogen peroxide as well as hydrogen. Most further studies centeredabout optimizing the formation of hydrogen peroxide or studying the OHfree radical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to the present invention, water molecules, preferablyin the form of steam or water vapor, are introduced into a plasma. Theplasma causes the water molecules to dissociate into their constituentmolecular elements of hydrogen and oxygen. To prevent recombining of theconstituent molecular elements, the hydrogen and oxygen are separatedfrom each other. Various methods may be employed to effect thisseparation. Once separated, the molecular components are prevented fromrecombining with each other or with other elements by using standardseparation techniques normally employed for separating dissimilargaseous species.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0012]FIG. 1(a)-(b) is a cross sectional view of a multipolar ECR plasmareactor useful to practice the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of a waveguide tube microwavecoupling for another plasma reactor;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a plasma reactor with helicalcoil;

[0015]FIG. 4(a)-(c) illustrate several coupling methods to electrodelessplasma reactors;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a separation apparatus used in areaction zone of a plasma reactor to separate the water molecules intoits molecular constituents;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of another type of separationapparatus useful to separate a gaseous stream into its molecularconstituents;

[0018]FIG. 7(a)-(d) are appendices A.1-A.4 referred to in thespecification;

[0019]FIGS. 8A-8D diagrammatically illustrate apparatus useful topractice the separation methods of the present invention;

[0020]FIGS. 9A-9B diagrammatically illustrate apparatus useful topractice the energy recovery from the plasma methods of the presentinvention; and

[0021]FIGS. 10A-10B diagrammatically illustrate apparatus useful topractice the energy recovery from waste methods of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Plasma is often called the “fourth state of matter,” the otherthree being solid, liquid and gas. A plasma is a distinct state ofmatter containing a significant number of electrically chargedparticles, this number being sufficient to affect its electricalproperties and behavior. In an ordinary gas each atom contains an equalnumber of positive and negative charges wherein the positive charges inthe nucleus are surrounded by an equal number of negatively chargedelectrons. Each atom in the ordinary gas is therefore electrically“neutral.”

[0023] The gas becomes a plasma when the addition of heat or otherenergy causes a significant number of atoms to release some or all oftheir electrons. The remaining parts of those atoms are left with apositive charge, and the detached negative electrons are free to moveabout. The positively charged atoms and the resulting electricallycharged gas are said to be “ionized.” When enough atoms are ionized tosignificantly affect the electrical characteristics of the gas, it is aplasma.

[0024] In many cases interactions between the charged particles and theneutral particles are important in determining the behavior andusefulness of the plasma. The type of atoms in a plasma, the ratio ofionized to neutral particles and the particle energies all result in abroad spectrum of plasma types, characteristics and behaviors.

[0025] The plasma itself can be produced via several techniques and mayfurther be continuous wave or pulsed. A water plasma may be createdutilizing energy in the microwave, radio frequency or low frequencyregion. Frequencies from 50 Hz to 100 gHz may be used. Pressures from 1mtorr to 1000 atmospheres can be used. In addition, arc plasmas may alsobe used to crack water to hydrogen in oxygen. Arc plasmas generallyemploy two electrodes as a means of completing the electrical path.

[0026] Accordingly, the present invention, as described herein, is notlimited to any particular methodology to develop the plasma. Examples ofplasma generation devices that may be used, but not limited to, are lowpressure (non-equilibrium) plasmas, penning plasma discharge, radiofrequency capacitive discharges, radio frequency inductively coupledplasmas, microwave generated plasma, D.C. electrical discharges, andinductively coupled discharges.

[0027] Some specific examples of plasma reactors are shown. FIG.1(a)-(b) illustrates a multipolar ECR plasma reactor. FIG. 2 shows afragmentary view of a waveguide-tube microwave coupling reactor. FIG. 3is yet another plasma reactor with a helical source. FIG. 4(a)-(c)illustrate several RF coupling methods to electrodeless plasma reactors.

[0028] In accordance with the present invention, water molecules, H₂O,are injected into the plasma. The water may enter into the liquid stateor more preferably in the gaseous state in the form of a vapor such assteam. Furthermore, the water vapor or steam may be injectedconcurrently with other gases such as nitrogen, argon, helium, xenon,krypton, air, etc., in order to assist in the dissociation of the waterinto its constituent components. These components may be free radicalssuch as OH, H, HO₂, or their ionic counterparts such as OH—, OH+, H+,H—, etc.

[0029] Appendices A.1-A.4 represent the equilibrium concentration of thevarious species as a function of temperature at a pressure of 1 bar, 10bar, 0.1 bar and 0.01 bar, respectively, and an initial concentration ofwater vapor of one mole. In another embodiment, a gas possessing theproperty of easily dissociating into a plasma such as argon may be usedin which the water vapor is injected into the argon plasma such that theresident time of the water vapor in the argon plasma is sufficient toaffect dissociation. Other gasses of similar properties may be used suchas helium or xenon.

[0030] In order for the constituent components that are formed in thedissociation process from reverting to their earlier state (water vapor)or recombining to form other materials, it is important that thereaction is frozen so that the dissociation is irreversible. Thus, inorder to crack water to its molecular constituents, H₂ and O₂, withoutreverting back to water vapor, the reaction must be frozen or theconstituent components of the plasma separated so that they do notrecombine.

[0031] There are various techniques for isolating the components so thatthey will not recombine. One such technique uses a high temperaturemembrane within the reaction zone, the reaction zone being that part ofthe reactor where the plasma resides. Since temperatures within thiszone may reach very high values, it is important that the membraneconsist of material that can withstand that rigorous environment.Ceramic membranes that have a porosity that will allow the passage ofone constituent and not another will permit the separation of hydrogenand oxygen. Other membranes such as ion transport membranes (ITM),Cermets, zeolites, sol gels, and dense ceramic materials (e.g.,BaCe_(0.8)Y_(0.2)O₃-alpha (BCY)), among others, may be used. Thesematerials may be biased with an electrical charge or not depending onthe nature of the plasma formed.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, water vapor isadmitted into the reaction zone or optionally along with an inert gassuch as argon, as seen in FIG. 8A. As best seen in FIG. 5, there are twoconcentric tubes where the space between the outer surface of the innertube and the inner surface of the outer tube is the plasma reactionzone. The plasma may be formed by using the RF coils as shown, orthrough numerous other methodologies as discussed above. The water vapormay be introduced in a number of configurations so that mixing with theplasma is sufficient to cause the water molecules to decompose tohydrogen and oxygen. The residence time of the water molecules in theplasma is long enough to cause the reactant water vapor to decompose.The configuration of the water vapor stream relative to the argon streammay be at any angle so long as the above criteria is established. Thus,a countercurrent stream of water relative to argon may be used. Otherconfigurations such as co-current or at any angle such as 90 degrees asan example can be employed.

[0033] In order to make the reaction more economic, air or nitrogen maybe substituted for an inert gas such as Argon. However, a potentialby-product using nitrogen or air may be NO from the reaction, N2+O2=2NO.First, due to the difficulty of breaking the triple bond of nitrogen,the use of a seeding material as illustrated in this patent applicationmay be employed. The seeding material will increase the conductivity ofthe plasma and thus, lower the temperature requirement of the plasma.The by-product NO may be used to increase the amount of hydrogenproduced in the following way.

[0034] NO, nitric oxide possesses has a low boiling point, lowionization potential and high thermal stability. A variety of acids maybe used. 1 illustrate the use of phosphoric acid as an example. Theproduct NO issuing from the plasma reactor is contacted with aphosphoric solution as shown below:

NO+2HPO3=2NO+PO3⁻+H2(g).

[0035] Thus, hydrogen is generated from the phosphoric acid solutionusing NO. The phosphoric acid decomposes, releasing hydrogen, andforming nitrosonium phosphate (a salt). When water is added to the salt,the acid and one half of the nitric oxide is reconstituted. Heat isevolved. The NO2 is heated and broken down to NO for further recycling.

[0036] Thus,

2NO+PO3⁻+H2O=2HPO3+NO+NO2

NO2=NO+½O2

[0037] The by-product O2 from the cracking of water and NO/phosphoricacid reaction may optionally be used in a recycle mode to make a moredesirable 1:1 N:O charge with the incoming water vapor in order tooptimize NO production by the reaction above.

[0038] The water vapor is introduced into the reaction zone at one endof the concentric tubes, as seen in FIG. 5. Inside the reaction zone,the water molecules are dissociated into their molecular constituents asdescribed above. Due to the difference in diffusivities of hydrogen andoxygen, either component will diffuse preferentially through the outersurface of the inner tube into the inner tube. Since the radius of thehydrogen atom or molecule is smaller than the radius of the oxygen atomor molecule, the hydrogen species will preferentially diffuse throughthe wall of the inner tube, thus affecting separation.

[0039] The reaction zone will become increasingly rich in the oxygenspecies down the length of the reactor. Further separation outside ofthe reaction zone at the other end of the concentric tubes can beaccomplished using standard separation techniques normally employed forseparating dissimilar gaseous species.

[0040] The above description illustrates a single stagereactor/separator system. Each stage may be arranged in series or inparallel for a multistage system. In addition, there may be severalstages of separation within the reaction zone by using multipleconcentric tubes. There can be different combinations of series andparallel reaction zones with or without multiple tubes within eachreaction zone in order to affect better separation or throughput of theproduct gasses.

[0041] The inner tube of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 may be a membranewhich is biased by a DC, AC or high frequency voltage as shown in FIG.8B. The membrane need not be tubular as show, but any suitable geometrymay be utilized.

[0042] In another embodiment of the present invention, a convergingdiverging nozzle may be used to freeze the reaction after cracking ofthe water molecules into its constituent hydrogen and oxygen componentsso that the dissociated constituents do not recombine. Since gasses willdiffuse inversely proportional to the square root of the molecularweight and the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen and oxygen are verydifferent, separation of the hydrogen and the oxygen can beaccomplished.

[0043] More particularly, the generation of molecular beams by means ofexpansion of gasses through a Laval nozzle is described by E. W. Beckerand K. Bier in Z. Nauturforsch, vol. 9a, p. 975 (1954). As describedtherein, the enhancement of beam intensity is due to a diffusion processof such a nature as to cause the heavier constituent to concentratealong the core of the emerging beam. In terms of the directionaldistributions in intensity of the beam components, the heavier componentis found to have a sharper maximum in the forward direction.

[0044] An example of a Laval nozzle is shown in FIG. 6, and is describedin Waterman and Stern, J. Chemical Physics, vol. 31, no. 2, Aug. 1959,pp. 405-419. As described by Waterman and Stern, in furtherance of theteachings of Becker and Bier, it is postulated that the compositiongradients in the supersonic jet expansion of the molecular components isthe result of the thermal diffusion of the lighter component, in thiscaser hydrogen, to the outer layers of the jet.

[0045] Alternatively to a converging diverging nozzle, an expansionnozzle may be used as seen in FIG. 8C. The expansion nozzle cools theexiting gasses to prevent recombination.

[0046] In another embodiment of the present invention, shock cooling viainjection of another gas that will assist in the termination of the freeradical process may also be used. In addition, cryogenic cooling maybeemployed to assist in freezing the product gasses. The gases may also befrozen in composition by exiting the gases through an expansion nozzle,thus allowing the easier separation of the components.

[0047] Another method of terminating reactor species so that thepredominant exit gasses are hydrogen and oxygen is through the use of acatalyst. If a substance, such as silica gel, with a sufficient surfacearea is present in the stream of the reactive components, the radicalcomponents will preferentially being redirected in the reaction pathwayto hydrogen and oxygen.

[0048] Examples of catalyst that assist in the recombination of thesecomponents to the permanent gasses H2 and are platinum, salts andmetals, zinc chromite, or other metal oxides, among others. Gas phasecatalysts may also be employed effectively. A third body collision willfavor the recombination of oxygen atoms or hydrogen atoms to form themolecular counterparts. For example, O+O+M=O₂+M, and H+H+M=H₂+M, where Mmay be any gas species not interfering in the reaction. An example of Mis argon, xenon or any of the inert gases.

[0049] Other gasses may be employed. Precaution must be obeyed so thatthe gas phase catalyst does not participate in the reaction leading to achemical reaction with it. An example is carbon monoxide, whereby aselective termination of one of the important intermediates leads to theproduction of hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen atoms may then besubsequently recombined with itself to form H₂ gas by any of thetechniques discussed above. The reaction is OH+CO=CO₂+H.

[0050] In addition, material may be sacrificed in order to producehydrogen atoms. If carbon is placed in the path of the reactingintermediates, the primary product is carbon monoxide, or OH+C=CO+H.Once again, hydrogen atoms may then be recombined by any other of themethods described above.

[0051] In another method of preventing the hydrogen and oxygen speciesfrom recombining, a third party component may inhibit the recombinationreaction. An example of an inhibitor is iodine. Adding I₂ to the streamwill inhibit the recombination of oxygen and hydrogen back to water.Care needs to be taken that heterogeneous effects do not predominatewith this inhibitor that may impair the inhibitory nature of thiscomponent. W. A. Waters (Chemistry of Free Radicals, Oxford, 1946, page89) and Norrish (Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1931, 135 p.334) havetaught that “Iodine . . . is an inhibitor of the hydrogen-oxygenreaction, since it reacts with the free atoms giving products, such asatomic iodine, which have too little intrinsic energy to interact eitherhydrogen or oxygen molecules.” Furthermore, Morris and Pease (J.Chemical Physics, 1935, 3, p796) teach, H+I₂=HI+I. The net reactionenthalpy is exothermic giving 33.7 kcals. In addition, the energy ofactivation of this reaction is approximately 0 kcal. Hence under certainprocess conditions, the reaction is favorable and hence, thesesubstitutions occur at practically every collision between a hydrogenatom and halogen molecule (e.g. iodine) even at room temperature. Thereare various methods to recover iodine to be used again.

[0052] In another method for separation a magnetic field may beestablished in order to effect the separation of hydrogen and oxygen. Anapparatus allowing the practice of this method is seen in FIG. 8D. Freeradicals have magnetic moments and are thus influenced by externalmagnetic fields. Stern and Gerlach teach that the deflection of speciesis governed by the following equation:

X(v)=1/(2ε)μ_(eff)(δH/δx)1²

[0053] Where, 1=length of the field

[0054] δH/δx=magnetic field gradient

[0055] ε=kinetic energy of molecules

[0056] μ_(eff)=Mgμ₀(M can have values −J, −J+1, . . . J; g is the Landefactor, and μ₀ is the Bohr magnetron)

[0057] Thus, an inhomogenous magnetic field may be established undercertain process conditions in order to separate the free radicals bytheir magnetic moments.

[0058] Furthermore, under certain conditions in the plasma, hydrogen andoxygen have dissimilar ionization potentials. Thus, by imposing apotential difference on the plasma, also as seen in FIG. 8D, it ispossible to separate the species under certain specialized conditionsdue to the different ionic potentials of the ionized species. At veryhigh temperatures the hydrogen and oxygen species become ionized and areinfluenced by the external voltage applied, thus promoting separation.

[0059] For stationary generation of hydrogen in large quantities, asource of water and electricity is needed. There are several sourcesthat can be used that are found naturally. Geothermal sources provideboth water vapor in the form of steam as a reactant for this device aswell as a source of electricity. As shown in FIG. 10B, hydroelectricpower may also be used to drive the device and the nearby water sourcemay be used as a reactant. The portable form of this device may be usedanywhere so long as there is a source of water and electricity.

[0060] In addition, as shown in FIG. 10A, conventional power plants thatuse natural gas, coal, nuclear, or other fossil fuels as a source ofheat to generate steam for electrical power, generate large quantitiesof waste steam that needs to be eliminated through condensation. Thisinvention may use this waste steam as reactant material in order togenerate hydrogen as an energy carrier. As an example, a smallelectrical power plant that generates 5,500 kw (Standard Handbook forElectrical Engineers, A. E. Knowlton, 9^(th) Edition, McGraw-HillCompany, Section 10-43, page 920) is used for illustrative purposes. Theextracted or waste steam in this example is 71,400 pounds per hour or32,455 kgs/hour or approximately 1,803 kg-moles of hydrogen produced perhour. Assuming perfection conversion of the steam), the amount ofhydrogen produced would be 894 kilograms of hydrogen per hour or 10,927m³/hour or 95,718,949 m³/year.

[0061] Additionally, the plasma may be operated at lower power levels ifit can be initiated more easily. The method that can increase theconductivity of the plasma and thereby lower the input power is calledseeding. This class of materials possesses low ionization potentials.This means that substantial conductivities can be achieved at relativelylow temperatures. The alkali and alkaline earth metals possess thatproperty. For example, ionic salts from the alkali and alkaline earthmetals are excellent candidates. Examples of such compounds are CsCO₂,CsCl, K₂CO₃, KOH, KCl, NaCl, NaOH, Na₂CO₃, and the like. Alternatively,mercury may be used as a seed material.

[0062] Plasmas in the higher pressure range will emit large quantitiesof heat and light. The heat is derived from a variety of sources such asthe recombination reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. Recovery of that heatcould be by means of heat exchange, heat pipes, as seen in FIG. 9A, oreven photovoltaic cells, or thermoelectric or thermoionic devices, asseen in FIG. 9B. The heat recovered may be used to raise the temperatureof the incoming reactant steam or water so that the plasma will utilizeless energy in the cracking process. Since the plasma is electricallyconductive, it is even possible to capture some of the electrical energyof the plasma using techniques common to MHD systems.

What is claimed as the invention is:
 1. A method of generating hydrogenand oxygen gas comprising steps of: injecting water molecules into aplasma to dissociate said molecules into a hydrogen species and anoxygen species; separating within said plasma said hydrogen species fromsaid oxygen species; removing each of said oxygen species and saidhydrogen species from said plasma so that said oxygen species formsgaseous oxygen and said hydrogen species forms gaseous hydrogen.
 2. Amethod as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:generating said plasma in the microwave frequency segment of theelectromagnetic spectrum.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 1 furthercomprising the step of: generating said plasma in the radio frequencysegment of the electromagnetic spectrum.
 4. A method as set forth inclaim 1 further comprising the step of: generating said plasma from lowfrequency electromagnetic waves.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 1further comprising the step of: generating said plasma from an arcdischarge.
 6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising thestep of: developing an electromagnetic field from a source of electricalenergy to define a plasma reaction zone, said water molecules beinginjected into said zone.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 6 furthercomprising the step of: developing said electrical energy from at leastone of solar energy, hydroelectric energy and geothermal energy.
 8. Amethod as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:developing said electrical energy from a hydroelectric source; andrecovering at least a portion of water used by hydroelectric source assaid injected water molecules.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 6further comprising the steps of: developing said electrical energy froma geothermal source in which water vapor is emitted; and recovering atleast a portion of said emitted water vapor as said injected watermolecules.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising thestep of recovering waste steam to provide said injected water molecules.11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said injecting stepincludes the step of concurrently injecting a gas into said plasma. 12.A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said injecting step includesthe step of injecting air into said plasma.
 13. A method as set forth inclaim 11 wherein said injecting step includes the step of injectingnitrogen into said plasma.
 14. A method as set forth in claim 11 whereinsaid injecting step includes the step of injecting an inert gas intosaid plasma.
 15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said inertgas injecting step includes injecting a selected one of xenon, neon,krypton, helium and argon into said plasma.
 16. A method as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said injecting step includes the step of injecting steaminto said plasma.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidseparating step includes the step of placing a porous membrane adjacentsaid plasma wherein said porous membrane includes a plurality of poreshaving a diameter intermediate a diameter of said hydrogen species andsaid oxygen species such that said hydrogen species permeates throughsaid membrane.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein saidplacing step includes the steps of: forming said porous membrane as afirst tube; placing said first tube within a nonporous second tube suchthat said reaction zone is confined between said first tube and saidsecond tube, said water molecules being injected into said reaction zonefrom a first end of said second tube.
 19. A method as set forth in claim17 wherein said placing step further includes placing a plurality ofmembranes in a selected one of a parallel and a serial arrangement. 20.A method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising electricallybiasing said membrane.
 21. A method as set forth in claim 20 whereinsaid biasing step includes the step of applying a DC voltage to saidmembrane.
 22. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said biasingstep includes the step of applying an AC voltage to said membrane.
 23. Amethod as set forth in claim 22 wherein said applying step includesapplying a high frequency voltage to said membrane.
 24. A method as setforth in claim 1 wherein said separating step includes the step ofpumping said oxygen species and said hydrogen species through aconverging diverging nozzle to form an exit beam wherein said oxygenspecies emerges from said nozzle substantially along a core of said beamand said hydrogen species migrates outwardly of said beam.
 25. A methodas set forth in claim 24 wherein said converging diverging nozzle is aLaval nozzle.
 26. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidseparating step includes the step of quenching of said oxygen speciesand said hydrogen species upon exiting said plasma to preventrecombination thereof.
 27. A method a set forth in claim 26 wherein saidquenching step includes the step of pumping said oxygen species and saidhydrogen species through an expansion nozzle prior to said shock coolingstep.
 28. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said separating stepincludes the step of developing an electrical potential across saidplasma wherein said potential interacts with a differing electricalpotential of each of said hydrogen species and said oxygen species toeffect separation.
 29. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidseparating step includes the step of developing a magnetic field acrosssaid plasma wherein said field interacts with a differing magneticmoment of each of said hydrogen species and said oxygen species toeffect separation.
 30. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein saidseparating step further includes the step of developing an electricalpotential across said plasma wherein said potential interacts with adiffering electrical potential of each of said hydrogen species and saidoxygen species to effect separation.
 31. A method as set forth in claim1 wherein said separating step includes the step of introducing acatalyst into said plasma to effect termination of the active species ineach of said hydrogen species and said oxygen species.
 32. A method asset forth in claim 1 wherein said separating step includes the step ofintroducing a homogenous reactant into said plasma to react with saidoxygen species to prevent recombination with said hydrogen species. 33.A method as set forth in claim 32 wherein said introducing step includesthe step of introducing carbon monoxide such that an OH intermediatecombines with said carbon monoxide resulting in the production hydrogenatoms and carbon dioxide.
 34. A method as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid separating step includes the step of introducing a sacrificialcomponent into said plasma to react with said oxygen species to preventrecombination with said hydrogen species.
 35. A method as set forth inclaim 34 wherein said introducing step includes the step of introducingcarbon such that an OH intermediate combines with said carbon resultingin the production hydrogen atoms and carbon monoxide.
 36. A method asset forth in claim 1 wherein said separating step includes the step ofintroducing a atomic or molecular component into said plasmaconcurrently with said water molecules to inhibit recombination of saidoxygen species and said hydrogen species
 37. A method as set forth inclaim 36 wherein said introducing step includes the step of introducingiodine (I₂) into said plasma.
 38. A method as set forth in claim 1wherein said separating step includes injecting a cryothermic gasselected to be non-reactive with one of said oxygen species and saidhydrogen species into said plasma to shock cool said oxygen species andsaid hydrogen species to prevent recombination thereof
 39. A method asset forth in claim 1 further comprising recovering energy from saidplasma wherein said recovered energy is converted to a useful form. 37.A method as set forth in claim 39 wherein said recovering step includesthe step of inducing electrical current in electromagnets placed aboutsaid plasma from the electromagnetic energy of said plasma.
 38. A methodas set forth in claim 39 wherein said recovering step includes the stepof placing a heat exchanger proximal said plasma to recover heat energytherefrom.
 39. A method as set forth in claim 39 wherein said recoveringstep includes the step of placing a heat pipe within said plasma torecover heat energy therefrom.
 40. A method as set forth in claim 39wherein said recovering step includes the step of placing solar cellsproximal said plasma to recover light energy therefrom.
 41. A method asset forth in claim 39 wherein said recovering step includes the step ofplacing a thermoelectric device proximal said plasma to recoverelectrical energy therefrom.
 42. A method as set forth in claim 39wherein said recovering step includes the step of placing a thermoionicdevice proximal said plasma to recover electrical energy therefrom. 43.A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said injecting step includesthe step of injecting said water molecules in a first stream and furtherinjecting an inert gas in a second stream, said first stream and saidsecond stream having an angle therebetween ranging from 0° to 180°. 44.A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plasma is a pulsed plasma.45. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plasma is anoscillating plasma of having a controlled frequency.
 46. A method as setforth in claim 1 wherein said plasma is an oscillating plasma of havinga variable frequency.
 47. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidplasma is developed at a pressure of between 1 mtorr to 1000atmospheres.
 49. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plasma isdeveloped at a temperature between 5° C. and 20,000°K.
 50. A method asset forth in claim 1 wherein said plasma is developed at a frequencybetween 50 Hz and 100 gHz.
 51. A method as set forth in claim 1 furthercomprising the step of introducing a seed material into said plasma tothereby lower the temperature thereof.
 52. A method as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said introducing step includes the step of selectingsaid seed material from materials having low ionization potentials. 53.A method as set forth in claim 52 wherein said selecting step includesthe step of selecting from alkali and alkaline earth metals.
 54. Amethod as set forth in claim 52 wherein said seed material is mercury.55. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said removing step includesthe step of introducing a catalyst into said plasma to terminate saidoxygen species and said hydrogen species and to redirect said oxygenspecies and said hydrogen species to molecular hydrogen and molecularoxygen.
 56. A method as set forth in claim 55 wherein said catalyst hasa high surface area.
 57. A method as set forth in claim 55 wherein saidcatalyst is silica gel.
 58. A method as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid injecting step further includes the steps of: injecting nitrogenconcurrently with said water molecules into said plasma such that nitricoxide is formed as a byproduct; injecting an acid post plasma such thatsaid nitric oxide reacts with said acid to form a salt thereby releasingmolecular hydrogen.
 59. A method as set forth in claim 58 wherein saidacid is phosphoric acid.